§ Mr. Litherlandasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average income per district received from the introduction of charges to overseas visitors using National Health Service facilities since the arrangements were instituted.
§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the income from charges on overseas visitors during the year since the implementation of these charges for each district health authority, regional health authority and in total.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI shall write to the hon. Members as soon as possible.
§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the cost of charging overseas visitors for National Health Service treatment during the last year in each district health authority, regional health authority and in total.
§ Mr. Litherlandasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if the introduction of charges for overseas visitors will lead to increases in administrative and clerical staff work load; and what effect this will have on the numbers of administrative and clerical staff employed in the National Health Service;
(2) what have been the administrative costs of introducing charges to overseas visitors using National Health Service facilities since the arrangement was introduced; and if he is satisfied with the cost-effectiveness of these arrangements.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the annual cost to 452W the National Health Service of procedures for checking the nationality of: (a) patients admitted to hospitals and (b) patients treated generally.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeNo separate records are kept centrally of the administrative costs involved in identifying overseas visitors liable to be charged, but I have no reason to think they are significant.